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No. 19-1231October Term 2019Decided Apr 1, 2021Updated May 24, 2026

Docket 19-1231October Term 2019 (2019–2020)

FCC v. Prometheus Radio Project

This case was about the FCC’s decision to repeal or loosen several long-standing media ownership rules that limited common ownership of newspapers, radio stations, and television stations in the same market.

Case status

Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Apr 1, 2021
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedApr 1, 2021
What it's about

This case was about the FCC’s decision to repeal or loosen several long-standing media ownership rules that limited common ownership of newspapers, radio stations, and television stations in the same market. The dispute was whether the FCC reasonably concluded that changing those rules fit current market conditions and would not likely harm minority and female ownership.

Question presented

Whether the court of appeals erred in vacating as arbitrary and capricious the FCC orders under review, which, among other things, relaxed the agency's cross-ownership restrictions to accommodate changed market conditions.

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit / Decision released Apr 1, 2021

Area

Administrative Law

Timing

Decided April 1, 2021

The Court released its decision on April 1, 2021 without hearing oral argument.

Activity

Docket activity3
  • Brief added: Questions Presented

    May 24, 2026 | Court records

  • Opinion added: opinion

    Apr 1, 2021 | Court records

  • Brief added: Petition

    Apr 17, 2020 | Court records